Calliope Music Rapid Reviews
London Brew - London Brew
The 12 Member Ensemble of Jazz Fusion, London Brew Cascades Skyscraping Avant-Garde on this Cathodic Ode to the Great Miles Davis.
Reminiscent of Miles Davis' seminal Bitches Brew, this London collective fashions rapid pace jazz through screeching electric guitar, hasty upright bass, tap drumming, digital sampling and an eclectic mix of clamoring horns.
The 88 minute album begins with the two-part title track, amassing over 38 minutes of breakneck fusion, emulating the bustle of a crowded city. From here, the group pays homage to Miles Davis's experimental run of the 1970s with heavier horns, scratchy guitar and almost deranged piano sections. Lastly, the band ends things on a darker note with ominous electronic grooves and theatric strings on the final two tracks. While London Brew clearly comes no where near the execution of Davis' fusion works, the ensemble still incurs an honorable homage to the genre's knack for divergence and experimentation.
Even though this LP is rather faithful, it does snag at times. Despite the songs' long duration, many portions fail to stick with the most impactful leads, instead opting for overly varied progressions. This is most harsh on the first two tracks, where extended developments repeatedly digress, leaving little room for continuity.
Notwithstanding, such an issue fades through the duration of the project. Particularly, in the final 20 minutes, there is a greater focus on simpler movements, luring the ear into brooding environments. It is these anxious expansions and diverse instrumentation that allow London Brew to be a venerable fusion commemoration.
Best Tracks: Miles Chases New Voodoo In The Church -- Mor Ning Prayers -- Raven Flies Low
6.5/10
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